Vodafone UK has expanded its staff development programme to allow of its 2,200 retail staff to follow a NVQ accredited development scheme enabling them to progress from trainee adviser through to regional manager.
The firm launched the scheme to 1,225 retail staff in November 2007 and has now expanded the scheme to all the retail team. It is expected that by the end of the first year of the programme around 700 people will have completed an NVQ.
The programme comprises six NVQ levels. The first two are compulsory for new joiners and staff who complete all six levels will have achieved the equivalent of 15 GCSE qualifications and four A levels.
The scheme will allow staff to progress their training at a pace that suits them and will be open to full and part-time employers. In theory, a member of staff could complete the entire programme in approximately three years. Staff will be supported by their regional managers.
In order to attain each qualification, staff will have to provide evidence that they have achieved certain standards and complete telephone based assessments.
Tom Devine, director of consumer sales for Vodafone UK, said: “We know that there is a direct link between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction and we are confident that this programme will give both a significant boost.”
He added: “The enthusiastic enrolment to the scheme over the last six months is evidence that there is a real appetite for career progression and personal development in the retail industry.”
